This website is a living document of our worldwide research into the lives of elderly. In October 2017 there will be an International Festival on Elderly in The Netherlands, accompanied by the publication of our book and documentary. Currently we are doing research in Cambodia.

2012 Bolivia

In our elderly series, we have arrived at Samaipata, a mountain village in Bolivia. Here I portray the people who have been born and raised here decades ago. Don Juan is 62 years old, and lives in a house with his mother, daughter and grandchild. In the spring and fall he works with his tractor […]

This is Doña Magdalena, she is 85 years old. She has been running the restaurant in front of her house. This was the place where she raised her 7 children and ran her business. This year she lost her daughter at the age of 52 and she has not recovered from that loss.

We have arrived to Samaipata, a mountain village in Bolivia in the foothills of the Andes. Here we portray the people who have been born and raised in this town. Doña Hubaldina is an 86 years old woman. Her family has been living in Samaipata for generations. She has one daughter and one son. Her […]

In Samaipata, Victoria was invisible next to her husband Henrique, who is known by everyone. We met her by chance, when we marked a photoshoot at Henriques house and a lady came out of a very small room and turned out to be his wife Victoria, 78 years old and 10 children, 25 grandchildren. They […]

Doña Margarita is the owner of Minimercado (small supermarket) Banegas, and it turned out as well owns the whole block of buildings in that street. Her husband build the house they live in, he died 1 year ago. Now she lives there in their room, and in the other 8 rooms live her son and […]

We met don Hermogenes Costas on the main plaza of Samaipata. He is sitting there most of the day and always tells us how calm it is to live here. He is 91 years old and proud of his age. He lives alone in the house where he lived with his wife and children. Next […]

Enrique is a well-seen man in Samaipata, and known for his helpfulness. He is 77, 2 years younger then his wife Victoria. They are living in the center of the village and are reconstructing their house to make a little shop to sell ice, gelatin and other homemade things.

Doña Simona is 77 years old and we met her walking quickly through the streets of Samaipata. She was on her way home to help her youngest daughter and granddaughter to make hamburgers to sell at the football stadium.

She came in, asked what we were doing and wanted to leave again. Ushered in by the daughter of Dona Olga, another elderly from Samaipata, she had no intention to stay for a photo. After asking her again and again she decided to sit down and let Martijn take a portrait of her, and even […]

Don Raul welcomed us to the village of his birth, Samaipata. Living next to his brother Don Hermegones Costas with one of his sons, he is often seen sitting at the main plaza. He was the local school director and mayor for many years, and is still active chairman of the civil council. For his […]